Garage Owner Arrested in Baie-du-Tombeau for Fuelling Cars With Subsidised Cooking Gas
Police seized two gas cylinders at a garage in Baie-du-Tombeau after the owner and two others were caught illegally diverting subsidised household gas to power vehicles.
Police from the Special Team of Metro North arrested the owner of a garage in Baie-du-Tombeau, along with a driver and an operator, after they were found converting subsidised domestic cooking gas into vehicle fuel. The operation took place on 11 November, and officers seized two gas cylinders at the scene.
Baie-du-Tombeau is a coastal town in the northwest of Mauritius, located in the Pamplemousses district, roughly ten kilometres north of Port Louis.
The suspects are accused of using liquefied petroleum gas, commonly sold in Mauritius as household cooking gas and sold at a government-subsidised price, to power motor vehicles. This practice is illegal because the subsidised gas is intended exclusively for domestic use. Diverting it to fuel vehicles deprives the state of revenue and undercuts the regulated fuel market.
The Metro North Special Team is a dedicated policing unit covering the northern region of Mauritius, tasked with targeting specific criminal activity and organised offences in that zone.
The Mauritius government subsidises household cooking gas cylinders to keep them affordable for low-income families. The retail price for a standard 12-kilogram cylinder is set below market rates as part of a broader social welfare policy. When operators buy cylinders at subsidised prices and then use the gas commercially, particularly to run vehicles, they exploit a system designed for vulnerable households while also bypassing the taxes and levies that apply to conventional vehicle fuels such as petrol and diesel.
What this means: This case highlights a known form of subsidy fraud in Mauritius where cheap domestic gas is siphoned off for commercial gain. Beyond the financial loss to the state, the practice raises safety concerns since cooking gas cylinders are not designed or certified for use as vehicle fuel systems. Authorities have periodically cracked down on such schemes, but the price gap between subsidised cooking gas and taxed vehicle fuels creates a persistent incentive for abuse. Those found guilty can face prosecution under consumer protection and fuel regulation laws.
The investigation is ongoing. It is not yet clear whether additional individuals connected to the garage are being sought by police.
Source: Le Defi Media
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to use household cooking gas to fuel vehicles in Mauritius?β
Yes. In Mauritius, liquefied petroleum gas sold as domestic cooking gas is subsidised by the government and legally restricted to household use. Using it to power vehicles is illegal, as it constitutes subsidy fraud and bypasses taxes applied to regulated vehicle fuels such as petrol and diesel.
What is the Metro North Special Team in Mauritius?β
The Metro North Special Team is a dedicated police unit operating in the northern region of Mauritius. It focuses on targeted law enforcement operations, including crackdowns on specific criminal schemes and organised offences in areas such as Baie-du-Tombeau and surrounding communities.
How much does a subsidised cooking gas cylinder cost in Mauritius?β
The Mauritian government sets the retail price of standard household LPG cylinders below market rates as part of its social welfare policy. The subsidy is intended to keep cooking fuel affordable for low-income families, which is why diverting it for commercial or vehicle use is treated as a serious offence.
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